"OUR TESTIMONY"
Betty & Marv Drummond
Even though the world is in
a sad state today, I am very thankful to be here. Especially am I thankful
to be living in this great land of America. It is truly
a glorious land though many who live here have done their best to make it
otherwise. Perhaps a good reason why I feel it such a privilege to
be here can be found in the next few paragraphs:
Some seventy plus years ago I was born to wonderful
parents. The small town of Sarilda held the two story home of
my grandparents and I was born in an upstairs room. I came into the
world with the help of a Dr. West, who being a very superstitious man, wondered
if I would make it as the dogs howled a great deal. (You may have heard
that old saying that a dog howling is an indication of a death that is about
to happen.) Well, I survived pretty well for a while and then became
very ill. I am not superstitious so I don't feel that the dogs had
anything to do with my health problems. Whatever the cause, I was diagnosed
with pneumonia and whooping cough. I am told that I ate and slept little
as I was coughing constantly. I was at that time three months old and
it was in the dead of winter which in the area where we lived meant very
cold weather and a lot of snow. Despairing greatly, my father hooked
the horses to a sleigh and Mother and Dad brought me close to 10 miles (through
deep snow and bitter weather) to St. Anthony where there was a hospital and
more doctors to help. My grandmother on my mother's side lived there
and we were, on arrival, made as comfortable as possible while the doctor
was called to examine and treat me. He (not wanting to upset my mother)
told grandmother that he could do nothing for me and if I was still alive
in the morning to let him know. I was struggling to live but was losing
the battle. My father had gone a few miles into the nearest town to
obtain some medication to help my cough (if possible) and while he was gone
a knock came to the door. When Mother answered the door, she found
two gentlemen standing on the porch. They asked her if there was illness
at that home and told her they had been directed to that door. She
told them about me and they asked if they could come in and try to help me.
These men were traveling Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints. They gave me a blessing by anointing my head with consecrated
oil and laying their hands on my head. They accompanied this with prayer.
Mother has told me that as soon as they laid their hands on my head
I stopped coughing and went peacefully to sleep. From that time on,
I was well. I have not had any repercussions from that illness as far
as I can determine. Most of my life I have been well and healthy. I
cannot contribute this miracle to myself. The credit must go to my
mother and father as they were people of faith and people who loved the Lord
Jesus Christ. I know, however, that it was through the power of this
Jesus Christ that I was made well and am still here to be able to appreciate
life and this land and the many blessings that have been mine.
There are many things people could bare testimony
to, but I believe the most important is that Jesus Christ is divine, that
he lives and loves us, and knows each one of us by name. I feel this
with my whole being and DO bare testimony that through Him we may gain great
blessings of eternal life and joy that far exceeds simple happiness. I
am grateful to have his gospel and that my husband holds the priesthood of
God and uses it to benefit our family and others. We are members of
His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am certain
that if the world would give prayer a place that it should have in our lives,
in our homes, schools, public meetings, etc. that much of the crime and
devastation that we are experiencing today would be a thing of the past.
The day will come when the Lord will return and things will be different.
Make no mistake. He will return- this will be a great and dreadful
day as the scriptures have stated; great for those who have followed His
commandments and dreadful for those who have not. not being perfect
myself I need to make changes in my life and am trying daily to do this.
To all who read this, please give Him a chance to make your life peaceful
and happy. If you don't know Him already, please make a commitment
to do so. You will not be sorry.
My husband feels the same as I do about the above
things and so I am signing his name to this as well as mine. Have a
happy day and God bless!!
